PM visits flood-stricken areas

Repeka Nasiko
Sunday, February 02, 2014

PRIME Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama has been assured that most roads will be open tomorrow.

In a meeting with government officials at the Commissioner Western's office in Lautoka yesterday, Commodore Bainimarama was told by Fiji Roads Authority officials that inaccessible roads would be cleared and repaired before school starts.

He toured most parts of Sigatoka and Nadi yesterday to inspect damaged roads and the progress of repair works.

He also spent time at evacuation centres which were still open to those who escaped rising floodwaters on Wednesday night.

In a debriefing session, divisional planning officer Western Luke Moroivalu told government officials that while certain areas were still inaccessible in affected areas, operations in other centres had normalised.

"As we speak for Rakiraki, Tavua, Nadarivatu, Ba and Lautoka, all activities in these districts have normalised and all evacuation centres have been cleared," he said.

"However, for Nadi, Nadroga and Navosa we still have some activities going on right now. There are still some evacuation centres that are still open.

"For Navosa, we still have some roads and crossings that need clearing and some crossings are still under water but they should be clearing this afternoon.

"And for Nadroga, we still have some evacuation centres in villages that are still open and also our Water Authority of Fiji people are still working on restoration of water supply and right now, we have reached 92 per cent in restoration of supply."

Mr Moroivalu said apart from roads, no major public infrastructure was damaged during the floods.

According to the report, a total of 1351 people were sheltered in 29 evacuation centres at the height of the flood.

In Nadroga, six with 218 people, Nadi had 14 evacuation centres opened and housed 741 people, Lautoka two with 26 people, Tavua one with 50 people and Rakiraki six with 316 evacuees.